Budget Tool Brands

[2001ZR2]

I tried Gearwrench when Tooltopia had their sale to buy a 3/8 set and get a 1/4" set for free. They are the 120XP ratchets and have become my go to set.

Garage Forum is a bad influence on me. I have RP craftsman that I used for years. Learned to clean and lubricate them. Then bought some HF 72 tooth ratchets to see if more teeth were better and now on the GW.

Now I have more ratchets than I ever thought possible because I have found all the different variations i.e. flex head or 3/8 drive in a 1/4".

 

[visionguru]

Interesting observation. I wonder why nobody comes out with a mid level consumer grade? A step up for the serious DIY, as well as an entry level for the aspiring professional mechanics.
Or do I already know the answer - the almighty dollar?

No "mid level consumer grade"?

There are store brands, which are already nice enough: Lowes/HomeDepot/Menards, Autozone, Tekton, Harbor Freight.....

Then there are Gearwrench and Carlyle.

 

[sberry]

How tight are the bolts on a guitar? I beat some of these wrenches with a 20oz nail hammer, add a 12 inch adjustable to the handles and treat them like that for decades and they still work.

 

[Shelbylex]

Seems like you have many, but want to upgrade. Take your time and look for the deals
Ratchets - go for used SK. Even their older ones work great after cleaning and new lubricant. For some reason many people sell them relatively cheap. (Will try to post my deal of 5 SK ratchets , 1Craftsman and T bar on Tu in sales thread...), previously bought 3/8 metric set missing 13mm and extended for $15 ... almost new...
Sockets - look for used SK, SO (if you have time, you will find the deals. I heard that for 1/4 drive SO are better built. I do not have a full set, but the ones I have work great
Wrenches - too many good ones.
Flair Nut wrenches - I think consensus is SO. Just buy the sizes you need.

An important point is: do you care if your tools are marked or have somebodies initials. If you do not care, you can find top notch deals for very little.

What are you planning to work on? Metric? SAE?
For SAE there are so many great vintage brands you can have for very little, you will be pleasantly surprised! Just take your time - look at what others post on their GJ Sale thread - you will find the deals!

 

[m6z]

Take your time and shop for closeouts and deals. Never pay retail prices.

I just ordered more than a dozen USA made Channellock Code Blue screwdrivers and a few other random things for $50 shipped from Circle C because I realized last night that I only had one P3 phillips and I've been usuing it a lot lately.

Most of them were less than $3 each. I almost ordered 1 SK screwdriver for more than $20 shipped from Amazon. I'm glad I took a few minutes and shopped around.

Noticed Tractor Supply had a nice Dewalt 227 item mechanics kit for $119 yesterday.

 

[m6z]

Individually. Most of the individual code blue drivers are an additional 20% off if you buy two or more.

 

[Downwindtracker 2]

Sockets and wrenches , even some of the cheap ones, are nicely finished now, suggesting the heat treatment and broaching might also be done with some care. With set of Mastercraft Maximums stubby combinations I picked up at the Fleamarket, a EASCO 11/16s was thrown in. While you won't know EASCO, or Moore the company they took over, you will recognize Craftsman, they are the company that made a lot of the old Made In USA wrenches. Boy, was it crude !

 

[maximummax]

Seems like you have many, but want to upgrade. Take your time and look for the deals
Ratchets - go for used SK. Even their older ones work great after cleaning and new lubricant. For some reason many people sell them relatively cheap. (Will try to post my deal of 5 SK ratchets , 1Craftsman and T bar on Tu in sales thread...), previously bought 3/8 metric set missing 13mm and extended for $15 ... almost new...
Sockets - look for used SK, SO (if you have time, you will find the deals. I heard that for 1/4 drive SO are better built. I do not have a full set, but the ones I have work great
Wrenches - too many good ones.
Flair Nut wrenches - I think consensus is SO. Just buy the sizes you need.

An important point is: do you care if your tools are marked or have somebodies initials. If you do not care, you can find top notch deals for very little.

What are you planning to work on? Metric? SAE?
For SAE there are so many great vintage brands you can have for very little, you will be pleasantly surprised! Just take your time - look at what others post on their GJ Sale thread - you will find the deals!

Which 3/8" SK model(s) and year/production run would you recommend?

Any issues to avoid, such as de-chroming or surface rust?

What are good prices ($20+ on Ebay) and where to find?

 

[dodge610]

Husky isnt bad the warranty is there no reciept needed. I switched from craftsman to husky when i can. Only because worried about getting the craftsman warranty taken care of. No complaints on any of the husky i have so far.

 

[Shelbylex]

Which 3/8" SK model(s) and year/production run would you recommend?

Any issues to avoid, such as de-chroming or surface rust?

What are good prices ($20+ on Ebay) and where to find?

I have 45170. Not sure which ones had more problem with dechroming. Somebody mentioned on the forum that SK Wayne might have had more of the problem, but I do not have confirmed consistent information.
I have two of them which I use and recently got another deal (please see todays post in
https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?=439709&page=23 post 443

I think that 10-15$ in good condition (no chrome missing) would be a good price off CL. On e-bay it's probably a little more expensive.

Take your time - you will find the deals. As I mentioned - I started with Husky and a lot of tools from Home Depot and Autozone as needed. I am slowly collecting and restoring (to mostly use) the brand tools as I find deals on yard sales and CL. However, my work does not depend on tools and I can always use my older tools for small projects I have. It takes much longer but I also enjoy it.

 

[Indexmill]

Honestly, you are hard pressed to be able to buy a ****** hard-line tool today. Almost ALL of them are sufficient and will provide good service. Sure, it you want to, then go spend lots of money on the more expensive tools; that's fine. But, if you are just starting out and don't have lots of cash to spend, then any of the "pro-sumer" brands listed earlier in this thread will be just fine.

 

[measuredtwice]

I just ordered more than a dozen USA made Channellock Code Blue screwdrivers and a few other random things for $50 shipped from Circle C because I realized last night that I only had one P3 phillips and I've been usuing it a lot lately.

I think the Code Blue screwdrivers are made in China (see photo). Circle C and Amazon both falsely describe them as made in the USA.

Channellock website says "made in China"
https://www.channellock.com/product/s364cb/

Photo from review on Amazon showing "made in China":
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B002JGKMRO/?tag=atomicindus08-20

Channellock does make the acetate handle drivers in the USA. Each of the drivers say "made in USA" on the handle.

 

[d.mcfarland]

I believe the Code Red pliers were initially made in USA (handle portion and metal portion) but then there was a rumor/fact that the handle portion was offshore?

I thought that the screwdrivers were always foreign.

 

[lardy1]

I bought those Code Blue screwdrivers thinking they were US made. I was disappointed but it was my own fault for not looking.

They are better than the Craftsman I had been using but I upgraded to Klein. Now I use those blue ones for beaters.

 

[m6z]

I think the Code Blue screwdrivers are made in China (see photo). Circle C and Amazon both falsely describe them as made in the USA.

My order is scheduled to arrive tomorrow. I'll report back with the COO of what they sent me.

 

[Ton ton]

What about the Code blue wide- mouth adjustable wrench COO?

 

[sberry]

I got a couple replacement cman a while back. I havnt worn them out yet, don't use the same one daily but so far it's good, good enough to do the work. My good ones are worn out, might just as well wear cheap ones.

 

[DwightS]

I have 45170. Not sure which ones had more problem with dechroming. Somebody mentioned on the forum that SK Wayne might have had more of the problem, but I do not have confirmed consistent information.
I have two of them which I use and recently got another deal (please see todays post in
https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?=439709&page=23 post 443

I think that 10-15$ in good condition (no chrome missing) would be a good price off CL. On e-bay it's probably a little more expensive.

Weekend before last, I picked up two 45170 ratchets at a flea market for $3 each (and a New Britain NB44). They worked fine and even better after cleaning and lubing. They do show some wear, more of a satin finish, not shiny chrome. A little wear on the sides of the head and a little wear on the knurling. But for $3 I had to rescue them. After a quick cleaning, they’re as good as any 3/8 ratchet in my box.

Don’t rule out flea markets or pawn shops. You may get lucky if for nothing else but to fill in the gaps to get you going.






Sent from my iPhone using Garage Journal

 

[Shelbylex]

That’s a great deal, DwightS!

 

[Ton ton]

You can buy Gear wrench off the Snap-On and get it warranteed that way.

 

[VolvoRyan]

As they say, different brands for different tools. Tekton, Gearwrench, and Sunex are great ways to flesh out a tool set. Craftsman and Kobalt aren't what they used to be. SK is a great USA brand that's a step up... and a good place to go for certain tools once you wear out things like sockets.

Also, second-hand Snap-On or MAC can be a good place to go.

-Ryan

 

[m6z]

China confirmed. I'll be returning these.

Thought maybe I'd keep them anyway, but the handles are rather slick and I don't care for the shape.

Sent from my Pixel 4 XL using The Garage Journal mobile app

 

[m6z]

Circle C has already sent me a return label. I'm impressed.

Tekton had a free shipping offer yesterday, so I ordered a single p3. I had forgotten about their USA made screwdrivers.

 

[dstblj52]

Husky isnt bad the warranty is there no reciept needed. I switched from craftsman to husky when i can. Only because worried about getting the craftsman warranty taken care of. No complaints on any of the husky i have so far.

if lowes want sbd will warranty craftsman their trying to rebuild the brand so their warranty service is really good right now, i had one broken socket and got the whole set in a box in return

 

[dnschmidt]

I'm honestly surprised at all the love for HF on this forum over & over...

Total budget tools user here. Will never buy snapon can't afford or justify that level for my uses even if I did have money to burn. There is a difference yes. No denial

All of the HF hand tools I've used, and I had a neighbor who bought a bunch of their junk all felt cheap and or outright broke.

Only pair of channel locks that fell apart in my hands were HF. Had a stuck #3 Phillips on one of his dirt bikes. End twisted right off. Grabbed a husky out of my truck box and screw came loose on the 1st twist...

I've always equated HF with cheapo no name & Wally World junk tools. Stuff that's good to use once or twice a year... The kinda krap you get from the bank when opening a checking account.

While I don't make a living with tools I also can't afford stuff that's as cheap as it is cheap...

Like I'm not about to put a $2 wrench on a $2000 guitar or drum kit and strip or break something.

Have quite a few husky tools never had an issue with any. Also have 90s craftsman which are still going strong in my carpenters kit. Plenty of others too including Milwaukee hand tools which are nicer then either...

I dunno. If I wanted really cheap bargain basement junk to use once and throw away I'd see the value in HF, maybe, but would probably buy Wally World brand first.

What am I missing?! If anything..?

YES, The last five years. HF quality has dramatically improved. True, their prices have also gone up but HF of today is miles better than HF of five years ago.

 

[Mgdoug3]

Old thread but HF still skips on socket sets though. I almost bought a set of 3/8 impact sockets but it was missing the 15 and 18mm. Ended up getting Asto Nanos sae and metric with no skips.